Mariner girls advance to Capital Classic final

Mia Scott makes game-winning free throw in 28-27 victory

Mia Scott and the Mariner girls’ basketball team raced past Dover Central to clinch a spot in the Capital Classic Hollywood Diner bracket final. AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Aaron R. Mushrush

February 15, 2024

Two Vikings vessels will descend upon Sussex Academy Saturday, Feb. 17, in an attempt to lay claim to the championships of their respective Capital Classic brackets after the Mariner girls’ basketball team defeated Dover Central 28-27 in a Valentine’s Day thriller.

“Dover was a great team to play, and we have a lot of respect for them,” said Mariner coach John Wright III. “We battled and competed tonight, which is something that we had kind of lost our way with.”

Trailing early in the contest, the Vikings fought back to lead 9-8 at the end of the first quarter. Leading the way for Mariner in the first, and throughout the game, was eighth-grader Mia Scott, who registered 15 points in the contest.

Protecting their lead, the Vikings clamped down on defense in the second, maintaining that intensity throughout the contest.

“We got back to our core, which is good, solid defense, and because of that, we were able to close out and win this game,” Wright said.

Closing out the game,however, was not for the faint of heart. Mariner needed to profit from its possessions as Dover’s Yasira Powell scored seven of the Senators’ 10 third-quarter points, giving Dover a 23-22 lead to start the final quarter.

Tapping into her Mamba Mentality, Scott scored two to take the lead early in the fourth and added another when the team needed her most.

With the game tied 27-27, Scott stood at the charity stripe with the fate of her team in her hands. After missing the first one, Scott didn’t flinch as her second shot passed through the twine to give her team the 28-27 victory.

“It was pretty scary, stressful, but I was super excited to make it for us to win,” Scott said.

The girls will have a chance to avenge a Jan. 31 40-38 loss at the hands of Milford when they play the Bucs in the final of the Capital Classic Hollywood Diner bracket. Tip-off is at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Feb.17, at Sussex Academy. The Beacon girls’ team is slated to play in the final of the Grotto Pizza bracket at 2:45 p.m., Feb. 17